Do you buy a higher fare-class (Y, B, U, H, M) solely to increase SWU/CR-1 chances?
Apr 26, 2012, 10:24 am
#91
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,765
Apr 26, 2012, 8:10 pm
#92
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
Without even addressing the fact that we are always in the dark if upgradeable seats are available and if upgradeable seats are available will they then be used to upgrade for sure, I can unequivocally state that I am not buying higher fares in order to increase the chances for using my GPUs ( SWUs using the old term ) simply for the fact that the difference between the W fares and "regular" fares is so drastically high that it is not worth for me to play the lottery game. Someone said 40 percent higher, I have seen more. With "discount" fares far from being discount any longer, paying higher prices for uncertain results is just wrong.
May 1, 2012, 10:42 am
#93
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
Without even addressing the fact that we are always in the dark if upgradeable seats are available and if upgradeable seats are available will they then be used to upgrade for sure, I can unequivocally state that I am not buying higher fares in order to increase the chances for using my GPUs ( SWUs using the old term ) simply for the fact that the difference between the W fares and "regular" fares is so drastically high that it is not worth for me to play the lottery game. Someone said 40 percent higher, I have seen more. With "discount" fares far from being discount any longer, paying higher prices for uncertain results is just wrong.
May 1, 2012, 8:35 pm
#94
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: NYC
Programs: AAEXP 2MM, UA 0.9MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott LT Plat
Posts: 124
I agree, primarily out of principle. I'm not going to pay hundreds of dollars extra for something I have no guarantee of receiving. I especially would not do it with company or client money.
May 2, 2012, 12:22 pm
#95
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-PM | UA-1K | HH-Gold
Posts: 938
May 8, 2012, 2:05 pm
#96
In Memoriam
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: ORD, UA 1K, SPG
Posts: 421
buyup
I personally don't think that the firm "buyup" is worth the "chance" of an upgrade. I just don't think that it is money well spent.
wwbgd
wwbgd
May 8, 2012, 5:45 pm
#97
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: DL-PM | UA-1K | HH-Gold
Posts: 938
I would note that I was the last UG to clear off the WL on my last IAD>LAX flight which was booked in to U. It was a 777 new config. I was amazed that a 1K on a U fare barely cleared given what the J cabin looked like a week out, but such is life! And yes, I could have booked below U at booking.
May 12, 2012, 8:25 am
#98
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,257
Once upgrades from B fares do not clear anymore, I think that I will be pretty much done with flying COdbaUA.
May 14, 2012, 4:38 am
#99
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
May 14, 2012, 8:57 am
#100
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: near to SFO and LHR
Programs: BA Gold, B6 Mosiac, VS, AA, DL (and a legacy UA 2MM)
Posts: 2,274
On SFO->LHR, I usually buy a somewhat higher fare than the minimum to increase my chances. Yes, it's a few hundred $$'s each time, but then usually I get the upgrade too. It takes a lot of these higher fare increments to equal the $4500 cost of even one Z fare, so I think I come out safely ahead over time, assuming that I'm desperate to fly in business class.
May 25, 2012, 4:49 pm
#101
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
Short response is that my upgrade, as a 1K on a "B" fare, did not clear.
Longer answer is what really gets me fuming.
I check-in 24-hours in advance. Site makes me think I have checked-in, but I haven't. CO, I mean UA, has to see my passport first. I have flown how many legs with you on this passport? Hello!
So I am not on the upgrade list because I am not checked-in (checked on the mobile app). Thanks UA.
Get to the airport and check-in. Get my boarding pass and go to the lounge.
STILL not on the upgrade list. I go up to the service desk at The United Club (stupid name for a club). What's the problem? They don't know. They fiddle with the computer for 10-minutes and tell me everything is fine.
I shoot up to the top of the upgrade list.
Business checks in full. I sit in Y for the trans-Atlantic flight.
It was a 757. What kind of second-rate airline flies trans-Atlantic into slot controlled Heathrow in a 757? That would be CO--I mean UA.
I buy my ticket a month in advance and every seat in C is open. I buy a B fare. I earned and pledge a Systemwide.
And I sit in Y.
Screw you, United. Never again.
To the arrogant and judgmental pundits who will say, "If you want to sit in C, buy C," grow-up and join the adult world.
I earn Systemwides to use them. I assume UA gives them to me to use them. I buy a B fare to improve my chances of using them and give UA a lot more money. I am a 1KMM. I fly UA a lot (although not as much as I used to).
UA should have released a seat in advance and cleared me in this situation.
Good for them. They sold all the seats. And they lost me as a customer if there another alternative on the route. That loss will be a LOT more than the incremental amount they made on that one-way fare between B and C fares.
I'm flying home tomorrow. On BA now. Paid C upgraded to F. Screw you United. And the horse you flew in on.
Last edited by Always Flyin; May 25, 2012 at 5:36 pm Reason: Added aircraft type.
May 26, 2012, 7:39 pm
#102
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
I am so pissed at UA I had to wait a couple of days to write this.
Short response is that my upgrade, as a 1K on a "B" fare, did not clear.
Longer answer is what really gets me fuming.
I check-in 24-hours in advance. Site makes me think I have checked-in, but I haven't. CO, I mean UA, has to see my passport first. I have flown how many legs with you on this passport? Hello!
So I am not on the upgrade list because I am not checked-in (checked on the mobile app). Thanks UA.
Get to the airport and check-in. Get my boarding pass and go to the lounge.
STILL not on the upgrade list. I go up to the service desk at The United Club (stupid name for a club). What's the problem? They don't know. They fiddle with the computer for 10-minutes and tell me everything is fine.
I shoot up to the top of the upgrade list.
Business checks in full. I sit in Y for the trans-Atlantic flight.
It was a 757. What kind of second-rate airline flies trans-Atlantic into slot controlled Heathrow in a 757? That would be CO--I mean UA.
I buy my ticket a month in advance and every seat in C is open. I buy a B fare. I earned and pledge a Systemwide.
And I sit in Y.
Screw you, United. Never again.
To the arrogant and judgmental pundits who will say, "If you want to sit in C, buy C," grow-up and join the adult world.
I earn Systemwides to use them. I assume UA gives them to me to use them. I buy a B fare to improve my chances of using them and give UA a lot more money. I am a 1KMM. I fly UA a lot (although not as much as I used to).
UA should have released a seat in advance and cleared me in this situation.
Good for them. They sold all the seats. And they lost me as a customer if there another alternative on the route. That loss will be a LOT more than the incremental amount they made on that one-way fare between B and C fares.
I'm flying home tomorrow. On BA now. Paid C upgraded to F. Screw you United. And the horse you flew in on.
Short response is that my upgrade, as a 1K on a "B" fare, did not clear.
Longer answer is what really gets me fuming.
I check-in 24-hours in advance. Site makes me think I have checked-in, but I haven't. CO, I mean UA, has to see my passport first. I have flown how many legs with you on this passport? Hello!
So I am not on the upgrade list because I am not checked-in (checked on the mobile app). Thanks UA.
Get to the airport and check-in. Get my boarding pass and go to the lounge.
STILL not on the upgrade list. I go up to the service desk at The United Club (stupid name for a club). What's the problem? They don't know. They fiddle with the computer for 10-minutes and tell me everything is fine.
I shoot up to the top of the upgrade list.
Business checks in full. I sit in Y for the trans-Atlantic flight.
It was a 757. What kind of second-rate airline flies trans-Atlantic into slot controlled Heathrow in a 757? That would be CO--I mean UA.
I buy my ticket a month in advance and every seat in C is open. I buy a B fare. I earned and pledge a Systemwide.
And I sit in Y.
Screw you, United. Never again.
To the arrogant and judgmental pundits who will say, "If you want to sit in C, buy C," grow-up and join the adult world.
I earn Systemwides to use them. I assume UA gives them to me to use them. I buy a B fare to improve my chances of using them and give UA a lot more money. I am a 1KMM. I fly UA a lot (although not as much as I used to).
UA should have released a seat in advance and cleared me in this situation.
Good for them. They sold all the seats. And they lost me as a customer if there another alternative on the route. That loss will be a LOT more than the incremental amount they made on that one-way fare between B and C fares.
I'm flying home tomorrow. On BA now. Paid C upgraded to F. Screw you United. And the horse you flew in on.
May 26, 2012, 11:52 pm
#103
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
I'm not sure if I am more mad at United or at myself for being so naive.
Sure won't be again.
May 27, 2012, 10:40 pm
#104
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2003
Programs: UA1k; Bonvoy Titanium; Hilton Gold; IHG Gold; AA Plat Pro
Posts: 1,794
At that price difference, you could not be far away from a Z fare - and a confirmed business class on whatever carrier you want! I am moving away from playing the UG lottery - which is becoming impossible for routes from EWR and SFO - and giving my money to any carrier that I can get a cheap price on for a Z fare.
May 27, 2012, 10:48 pm
#105
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 158
Due to the system error that forces us to manually check R inventory and call in to manually upgrade there is no longer any incentive to buy a B fare. Stick with W and you'll have exactly the same upgrade chance ... Meaning you will have to check R yourself.
